With our new web site and lots of new candidates, we thought it may be a good time to send out a news update to you. If you are still hosting au pairs there should be some useful information here for you.

The last year has been quite challenging for us all I'm sure. We've used the opportunity to refresh a few things about our service - notably our new web site and how we present candidates. We've also introduced our own social network and a VIP priority club for families. There's more information on these and other changes that have been taking place below.

In this update

Featured Au Pairs

Teacher available now

Roxana is a qualified teacher specialising in education of 3 to 12 year old children. She has also looked after her neighbour's young child. She is enthusiastic about coming to the UK looking to be placed as soon as possible.
more details

Elia - volunteer

Elia was a volunteer for the Little People Association, with experience working with children in hospital aged 6 - 14. She also has experience working as a housekeeper in the USA. She is also keen to come to the UK quickly.
more details

Looking forward to gap year

Angelica is just finishing High School and looking forward to spending a gap year in the UK. She eventually wants to study child psychology at university. Angelica has done voluntary work with children helping them making different arts and crafts.
more details

Teacher of English & German

Simina is another teacher with a total of 8 years experience working in kindergartens and other schools. She has also taught both English and German language to children in private lessons at her own home. She also has experience teaching children at a summer camp who showed a range of both physical and mental disabilities.
more details

Teacher of English & German

Anamaria is a 25 year old candidate who was previously employed for 18 months by a family as a live-in baby-sitter. She passed her driving test in 2003 and being 25 years old is a good choice if you are looking for a driver.
more details

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June 2009

To the left are just some of the many candidates we have available at the moment. Most of them are looking for long term placements of 1 year or more. You can see further information by clicking on their photograph. Their video introductions can also be found on our web site. Click to see all our candidates

We are happy to have finally released our new web site!! You may remember our old, web pages we had before.
Our new web site has far more detailed information about each candidate. Some of our au pairs have their video introcuctions on-line, but families who join our free priority club will see videos of our other candidates. more information

The au pair program has been replaced by the Youth Mobility scheme. The countries that participate in this new scheme are Japan, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Candidates of certain countries previously part of the au pair program scheme (notably Turkey) are no longer eligible to come to the UK and work as au pairs.
Any person from an EU country is able to take up employment in the UK as an au pair as well as in other jobs. In the case of Romanian and Bulgarian nationals, working as an au pair is one of the few legal jobs they are able to do.
Read More »

In the last 10 years since it was introduced, the national minimum wage has increased by 59%. It now stands at £5.73 per hour.
Au Pair salaries aren't required to meet the NMW because an au pair is living as a member of the family and receiving other benefits, but of course people who work as au pairs become aware of the pay rates in other jobs.
Another financial impact has been the fall in sterling. Since early 2008 the value of the pound has fallen by 25% against other currencies causing relative salaries to be lower.
As a result the recommendation for au pair's pocket money is now £65 per week for up to 25 hours. Some agencies are stating more than this but we are keeping parity with the majority. Read More »